Connecter



Marsh 15, 1932. BIRKENMAIER 1,849,$99

CONNECTER I Filed Jun, e 22; 195i 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a v 5 5 v 794 arch15, 1932. T. BIRKENMAIER CONNECTER Filed June 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2FEGHZ.

March 15, 1932. BIRKENMAIER CONNECTER Filed June 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet3 1 FIG.E4.

'rnnononn .B I:

Patented Mar. 15, 1932.

\ UNITED STATESPA'TENT OFFICE 2131 l .2 PORATION, OF

"wire without cutting or otherwise separating the wire, and which may beso connected with one hand of an operator; the provision of a connecterof the class described which is adapted to connect two wires together byrotation of a nut of said connecter in either a clockwise orcounterclockwise rotation; the provision of a one unit connecter of theclass described in which there is no deformation of metal required asthe connecter is applied to the wires and which is adapted 'to connectwires of different sizes; the provision of a.

connecter of the class described which effects a more rapid connectionbetween wires than has been heretofore possible with one unitconnecters; and, the provision of connecters of the class describedwhich'are simple and economical to manufacture and which are strong.Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several ofvarious possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of the invention shown placedover a service connection and line wire but prior to tightening;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken'on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the connecter as it is being, applied tothe line wire;

Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3, but showor sr. LOUIS, mssonm, ASSIGNOR'ro w. N. mm'rlmws consr. LOUIS, mssonnr, a conrom'rron or mssomu vcommas.

Application filed J'une 22, 1931. Serial No, 545,878.

- REISQSUED ing the connecter hanging on the wire after the hand isremoved, the dotted line alternate position showing how one element maybe positioned by a slight touch;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing one position of the connecterclamping the wires;

Fig. 6 is a view similafto Fig. 5 but showing the wires clamped by analternative position of the connecter;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an alternative form of the connectershowing it clamping and connecting two wires;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a double threaded nut of the connecterof Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a side elevation showihg the connecter of Fig. 7 openedan'd,being applied to a line wire;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the connecter of Fig. 7;

11 is a side elevation of another modificat1on of a one-piece connectershown clamping two wires together;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the connecter of Fig. 11 opened andbeing applied to a line wlre p F ig. 13 is a front elevation ofapreferred form of the invention shown placed over a line wire andclamping a service wire of a smaller diameter thereto;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the connector of Fig. 13 showing it beingapplied to the line WIIG; a

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing the connecter inpartially clamped position, and a service wire in place with the A linewire but prior to the final clamping;

and,

Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken on line 1616 of Fig-.13.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral 1 aconnecter positioned over a service wire or connection 5 and a line wire3. In customa' practice, the line wire 3 is stretched between poles orlaid in permanent installation in underground conduits and the like andconsequently such .a wire has no ends which may be passed through aconnecter block. Further, inasmuch as connections are generally made tosuch line wires as indicated at numeral 3, after the wires have beenStrung overhead or laid under ground, and because of the mechanicaldifliculties of splicing, and because it is inadvisable to cutthe linewire 3, the

notches, and the latter are moved out of juxtaposition as by axiallymoving the shanks 7 and 9 relative to each other, the wires are clampedby the side walls.

It is to be noted that the shank 9' and its groove or notch are bothlonger than the shank 7 and its notch. Thus the notch 25 is connecter 1must necessarily be adapted to thus formed sufliciently long so that asthe join the service connection 5 to the line wire 3 without requiringan end of the line wire to be passed through a block, or without cuttingorsplicing the wires.

The present invention provides a one-piece or unit connecter for makingaservice connection with a line wire 3, which requires neither an end ofthe line wire nor any cutting of the wire to complete the connectioniilnddwhich may be rapidly applied with one an V The Fig. 1 embodimentof the present invention comprises two clamping jaws or V sential toshanks 7 and 9 permanently joined together ,by a band or collar 11. Thecollar 11 passes around a circular groove, depressed or cutout portion13 of the shank 7 and around a similar but much longer cut away portion15 of the shank 9. The shank 7 has a second machined or cut-out andunthreaded portion 17 and the shank 9 has a threaded portion 19 oppositethe groove 17 A nut 21 is permanently but freely mounted on the'shank 7and held in place by-the groove 17. The threaded portion 19 of the shank9 is adapted to thread into the nut 21. Thus both the nut and the shank9 are permanently joined to the shank 7. The shanks 7 and 9 aresubstantially hemi-cylindrical and have faces 8 and 10 which are adaptedto slidably enga e one another. Together, the shanks 7 and 9 orm asubstantially complete cylinder, although positive, complete cylindrical(or circular cross-section) conformation is not esproper operation.Accordingly, the words complete cylindrical (or complete circularcross-section) are herein defined as conformations more complete thanhemicylindrical (or semifcircular) conformations.

As the threaded portion 19 is threaded into and out of the nut 21, brelative to thetwo shan s, the portion 15 of the shank 9 slides freelythrough the collar 11 and consequently moves longitudinally L withrespect to the shank 7 Both ofthe shanks 7 and 9 are provided withnotches 23 and 25 res ectively, the notches respectivelyhaving end walls27 and 29, and 31 and 33. The notches 23 and 25 form the receivingportions of the shanks 7' and 9, and the end walls the clampingportions. Thus when the notches are juxtapositioned as shown in Fig.2,the two wires 3 and 5 may vbe freely positioned between the notches butas shown in Figs. 5 and 6 when the wires 3 and 5 are positioned in therotating the nut threaded portion 19 leaves thetop of nut 21, the edge31 0f the groove 25 is aligned with the top edge bf the shank 7. Thus asthe shank 9 is raised still farther above the nut 21 the collar 11 ispositioned around the cut away portion 15 and the groove 25 and theassumes a position at an angle to the axis of the shank 7, this being byreason of the low center of gravity of the connecter as a unit, causedby the relatively heavy nut 21 attache to the bottom end of the shank 7.

v The application of the connecter 1 to join ii service wire 5 to theline wire 3 is as folows:

Theoperator holds the connecter 1 at the s tion swings the threadedportion 19 against the shank 7, and to a position to efiect thread inginto the nut 21. In this position even though the operators hand isentirely removed from the connecter and even though the wire 3 may bevibrating to some extent or moving as under the action of a high wind orthe like, the connecter 1 will not drop off of ,the wire 3, because asthe connecter is hanging on the wire 3, as shown by the dotted lineposition in Fig. 4, the weightof the nut 21 keeps the connecter 1 fromrotating about the wire to a position in which it could fall ofi' fromthe wire by reason of the wire passing out between the nut 21 and thebottom of the shank 9.

With the same hand, the operator now rotates the nut 21 in such a Way asto threadv the threaded portion 19 into the nut and continues to do sountil the edges 29 and 33 of the notches 23 and 25 are substantiallyjuxta-' positioned. During this operation there are no criticalperiodswhen an inadvertent push quired two-hand manipulation to ensure properoperation. After this operation has been completed, it is positivelyimpossible to remove the connecter 1 from the wire 3 without unscrewingthe nut 21 from the threaded portion 19, and consequently, the operatordoes not have to take any precautions whatsoever to prevent theconnecter from falling from the wire. The end of the service wire 5 isnow slid into position adjacent thewire 3 in the lower part of the holeor passage formed by the nowjuxtaposed notches 23 and 25 and inasmuch asthe edges 29 and 33, and 27 and 31 are substantially juxtapositioned thewires 3 and 5 are'freely movable in the passage bounded by the notches23 and 25. Then, the operator by means of a wrench or the like appliedto wrench receiving portion 22 of nut 21 tightens the nut 21 so as tofurther force the portion 19 of the shank 9 into the nut. In thisway theedge 31 of the nut 25 is gradually brought below the edge 27, andlikewisethe edge 29 of the notch 23 is gradually positioned above theend 33 of the groove 25. In other words the edges 31 and 29 approacheach other to positively clamp the two wires 3 and 5 together. In thisway a good electrical, as well as a strong mechanical connection is madebetween the two wires 3 and 5, without cutting or splicing the wire 3.

If, however, after the nut 21 is once on the threads 19, the operatoreither inadvertently or intentionally rotates the nut 21 in acounterclockwise manner, the connecter 1 effects a clamping action asshown in Fig. 6. The counterclockwise rotation of the connecter 21pushes the edge 33 of the shank 9 toward the edge 27 of the shank 7 andthese two edges being pushed towards each other under the 0 nut 57 1sprovided wlth both rlght hand action of the threads effectthe clampingof the wires 3 and 5 as is clearly shown in Fig. 6. W

In order to remove the connecter 1 from the wires 3 and 5 andaccordingly to disconnect the wire 5 from the line wire 3, it is onlynecessary to substantially align the respective edges 27, 29, 31 and 33as shown in Fig. 2, pull the wire 5 from the connecter 1 and thread theportion 19 completely out of the nut 21 by the proper rotation of thenut 21 and then to completely remove the connecter 1 from the wire 3,which removal is easily effected by reversing the procedure as describedin the application of the connecter to the wire 3.

An advantage of this connecter is that it is not only formed inone=piece or unit but also is readily applied with one hand by theoperator. Further, as the connecter is applied, as shown in Figs. 3 and4, there is very little line wire 3 as was formerly possible with theusual two-piece type of connecter. Another advantage of the invention isthat the threaded portion 19 may be made sufiiciently large to providethe amount of pressure necessary to effect a relatively substantiallocking of the wires 3 and 5 by means of the shanks The connectercomprises two shanks 37 and 39, each shank having a threaded portion 41and 43 and fiat surfaces 45 and 47 respectively. The shank 37 haspermanently and rigidly fastened thereto a band or ring 49 as shown inFigs. 7 and 9. Just below the band 49 a notch is cut out of the shank37, said notch being long enough to freely receive the two adjacentwires3 and 5 as shown in Fig. 7. The threaded portion 41 of the shank 37has right hand threads.\

The shank 39 has a cut away portion 53. which faces the notch 51 of theshank 37 and which extends tothe upper end oft-he shank "39. The curvedsurface of the shank 39 opposite the cut away portion 53 is also cutaway as shown at numeral 55 and is adapted to slip or freely move pastthe ring 49 as the shank 39 moves axially relative to the shank 37, thetwo surfaces 45 and 47 slidably engaging and moving past each other. The

threads 43 of the shank 39 are left hand threads. H

The two shanks 37 and 39 are permanently joined together by means of thenut 57. The

nut ina clockwise direction to cause the portion 41 to thread down intothe nut and the portion 43 to thread up into the nut. It is seen that bythis .operationthe two shanks 37 and 39 are moved longitudinal relativeto each other the faces 45 and 47 sliding on each other. After theportions 37 and 39 have been threaded into the nut 57, as shown in Fig.9

7 the ends of the threads 41 at the lower end ofthe jaws 37 are swedgedor otherwise de= formed to prevent removal of the nut at that end (seenumeral 2). It is impossible to remove the nut 57 from the top portionof the shank 37 which carries the collar 49 inasmuch as it has a largerdiameter than the threaded portion itself. It is to be. noted that thelength of the threaded portion 43 is at least equal in length to thethreaded portion 41, and when the nut 57 is at the extreme end of the.threads 41, the threads 43 are well within the nut 57. i

The cut away portions 51 and 53 have edges 61 and 63 respectively, andas the shank 39 moves relative to the shank 37 the edge 63 of the shank39 moves to and away from the bottom of the collar 49. I

The connecter may be used to connect a line wire 3 and a serviceconnecter wire 5 in the following manner: C

The nut 57 .is threaded to the far end of the threads 41, therebydropping the top end of the shank 39 away from the collar49 whichpositioning between the two shanks 37 and 39 gives ample room for theinsertion of the line wire 3 between the two cut away portions 51 and53.. The operator now pushes the connecter upward to seat the wire 3 between the cut away portions 51 and 53 and then rotates the nut 57 in aclockwise direction or in the proper direction to move the,

two shanks 37 and 39 relative to each other to cause shank 39 to justpass into the collar 49, and at the same time to substantially align theedges or ends 61 and 63. At this stage the wire 3 is completely butfreely locked in the connecter by the passage surrounded by the cut awayportions 51 and 53, the collar 49 and the two edges 61 and 63.

.At this stage of the operation, the, end 5. of

the service wire is passed through the opening and the nut 57 is thenrotated to force the edge 63 of the shank 39 toward the collar the priormodifications.

49 thereby clamping the two wires 3 and 5 together between the edge 63and the collar 49.

An advantage of this form of the invention, is the differential actionobtained between the left and right hand threads. It is to be understoodthat this form of the invenion may be changed to employ, for instance,two right hand threads of different pitches whereby a relativelylargemeehanical advantage may be obtained by the relative motion of theshanks 37 and 39. In the present form as shown in Figs. 7 through 9,'therapidity with which the two shanks 37 and 39 move in respect to eachotherhunlor the action of the right and left hand threads is especiallyadvantageous to complete the connection in a shorter period of time.

Referring now to the modification of Figs. 11 and-12, which is aprototype of the form of Figs. 7 to 9, there is illustrated at numeral65, a connecter connecting the two wires 3 and 5 which is similar tothose illustrated in The connecter '65 comprises two shanks (Wand 69,the former shank comprising a head 71, which has a cutout portion 73having a top edge 75, and a threaded portion 77 which has preferablyright hand threads.

The shank 69 has a cutout portion 83 similar to that of the cutoutportion 73, but which does not have the end portion 7 5 at the upper endthereof. The cutout portion 83 however,

has a'lower edge 84. A semi-circular, un-

threaded groove 85 is formed in-the shank 69 and is adapted to'form theguiding seat for a nut 89.

The two shanks 67 and 69 have faced portions 79 and 81 which when thenut 89 is threaded onto the threads 7 7, are juxtaposi- The connecter isapplied to connect the two wires 3 and 5 by first positioning the shanks67 and 69, by rotating the nrit 89, to drop the top of the shank 69below the edge 7 5 of the cutout portion 73 to, allow ample room for theintroduction of the wire 3. Then, as described in connection with themodification of Fig. 7, the connecter is pushed upward in such a manneras to seat the wire 3 between the cut away portions 73 and'83, and thenthe nut 89 is turned to axially push the shank 69 along the shank 67 topush the edge 84 of the cut away portion 83 toward the edge 75. The wire3 being seated between the cut away portions prevents rotation of theconnecter 65 relative to the wire 3 as the nut 89 is turned. After theedge 84 rises to substantial juxtaposition with respect to acorresponding edge 86 of the shank 67, the wire 3 is completely enclosedbetween the cutout portions 73 and 83 and consequently caught therein.The service-wire 5 is now inserted between the cut away portions and thenut 89 rotated to force the end 84 toward the edge and accordingly toclamp the two wires 3 and 5 between the edges 84 and 7 5. It is to heunderstood, in connection with the modifications of Figs.7 and 11, thatafter the connectors 35 and 65 respectively have assumed the positionasshown in Figs. 9 and 12, that the other hand of the operator may beused to prevent rotation of the shanks 37 and (37 respectively, whilethe nuts 57 and89 are being applied. Further in these modifications,both wires may be inserted at the be- I ginning of the operation if sodesired.

lieierring now to the modification of Figs. 13 through 16 there is showna preferred form of the invention, namely a cdnnecter whichis adapted toconnect substantially all'sizesof .103 and 107 being formed respectivelyon the wire as well as to connect wires of the same size. 1

The connecter as illustrated at numeral 91 is shown positively clampinga service wire 93 to a line wire 3, which wire 3 is similar to the linewires heretofore described. The service wire 93 has a substantiallysmaller diameter than the line wire 3.

The connecter 91 comprises a shank 95 and a clamping member 97, theformer comprising a bolt shaped member having a hexagonal head 101, anexterior threaded porti0na99, preferably extending over half way aroundthe bolt shaped member, and a faced portion 98' opposite said threadedportion. The hexagonal head 101 is full size and has a notch or clampingportion 103 on the under side thereof, one edge of which is flush withthe faced portion 98. The notch 103 has an outer edge 104.

The member 97 is substantially thinner than the shank 95 and is alsosubstantially shorter. It has a faced portion 111, a groove 105oppositely disposed to the faced portion 111, and a notch or clampingportion 107 at the top thereof. The outer edge 109 of the notch 107 isadapted to just slide past the outer edge 104 of the notch 103 when thefaces 98 and 111 are juxtaposed (Figs. 15 and 16).

The members 95 and 97 are held in posit1on, the faces 98 and 111slidably engaging each other, by a nut 115' which is'seated in thegroove 105 of the member 97 and whlch threads onto the threads 99 of theshank 95. After the two members 95 and 97 have been thus assembled bythe nut 115, the end of the threaded portion 99 of the shank 95, isdeformed as shown at numeral 2 1n order to positively prevent theremoval of the nut 115 from the shank 95. It is thus seen that the twomembers 95 and 97 are joined together as a unit.

The faced portions 98 and 111 are substantially continuous throughout,the length of the respective members 95 and 97, the notches under sideof the head 101 and the top portion of the member 97, incontradistinction to the positioning of the notches hereinbeforedescribed in the modifications shown in Figs.

' 1 through 12. It is thus seen that at no time during the applicationof the connecter 91 to wires is it possible for a wire'to slip downbetween a faced portion and. a notched portion, which slippingthereinbetween would provide a relatively poor connection between thetwo wires. The inside surface of the notch 103 faces the inside surfaceof the notch 107 at all times and is .at no time moved out ofjuxtaposition thereto. Consequently clamping by the two members 95and 97con sists in moving the inner surfaces of the two notches 103 and 104toward each other.

The connecter 91 may be applied to clamp a line wire to a service wirein the following -manner: I

The connecter is opened, as shown in Fig. 14, by threading the nut 115down on the shank 95 to allow sufficient room between thetwo endportions 104 and 109 for the passage of a line wire 3 therebetween. Thenut 115 is then grasped by the hand of the operator, and the notch 103hooked over the line wire 3. by passing the line wire between the edges10 4 and 109. The operator then with the It is to be noted that at alltimes during the positioning of the members 95 and 97 around the wire 3,even though at times the hand of the operator may be entirely removedfrom the nut 115, there is no danger of the connecter 91 dropping off ofthe wire 3 due to vibrations or other disturbances of the wire 3,inasmuch as the notch 103 provides a substantial recess for the wire 3.The low center of gravity of the connecter effected by the positioningof the relatively heavy nut 115 below the notch 103,.prevents anyrotation of the connecter 91 which would allow the connecter to dropfrom the wire.

The service wire 93 is now positioned below the wire 3, as shown in',Figs. 13 through 16, by slipping the end of the wire 93 through thepassage provided by the notches 103 and 107, and then threading the nut115 farther onto the shank 95, thereby forcing the member 97 toward thehead 101 of the shank 95 and thus forcing the two clamping portionstoward each other to securely lock the two wires 3 and 93 together Anadvantage of this modification is that regardless of the sizes of thetwo wires connected, positive connection between the two is alwaysinsured.

A further advantage of this modification is that the increased threadedportion 99 of the shank 95 and the stocky construction of the member 97substantially increases the available pressure which may be exertedbetween the notches 103 and 107 by forcing the member 97. against thehead 101 of the shank 95. Further the provision of the fullhexagonalhead 101 provides an additional hold for a wrench whereby twowrenches, one applied to the nut and oneapplied to the head, may

stantial overall reduction in the cost in the manufacture of theconnecter,

A general advantage of the invention is that the one-piece 'connectersthus provided to connect a service wire to a line wire are readilyapplied with one hand. Furthermore, no tool is required to deform thecon-- necters as they are applied over'the wires.

In view of the above, it will be seen that .10 the several objects ofthe invention are tion and a threaded shank, said shank hav- 'ing across-section less than a complete circle, a clamping member associatedwith said shank and having a cross-section such that said shank and saidmember together have a substantially complete circular cross-section, anut engaging the threads on said shank and encircling said member,thereby holding said member to said shank, whereby, upon rotation ofsaid nut, relative longitudinal motion is effected between said member"and said shank, said member having a clamping portion facing saidfirst-named clamping portion, said portions being shaped to receive andat least partially surround a plurality of wires, so that when said.clamping portions are brought together by manipulation of said nut, saidwires are clamped together.

2. A connecter comprising a substantially hemicylindrical shank threadedat one end thereof,'said shank having a notch in its plane surfaceintermediate its ends, a second substantially hemicylindrical shankassociated with said first shank and forming therewith a substantiallycomplete cylinder, said second shank also having a notch in its planesurface intermediate its ends, said second forming therewith asubstantially complete cylinder, said second shank being threaded at oneend thereof but in a reverse direction, said second shank; having anotch in its plane surface normally facingsaid first notch, a

nut threaded in twodirections and engaging and holding in assembly thethreaded ends of both said shanks, whereby, upon rotation of said nut,relative longitudinal motion is effected between said shanks, saidnotches being thereby displaced from'facing position to clamp together aplurality of wires inserted therein.

- 4. A connecter comprising a threaded shank and a head portion on saidshank, said head portion having a notch therein adapted to receive awire, said shank having a crosssection less than a complete circle, aclamping member associated with said shank and having a cross-sectionsuch that said shank and said member together have a substantiallycomplete circular cross-section, a nut engaging the threads on saidshank and encircling and holding said member to said shank, whereby,upon rotation of said nut, relative longitudinal motion is effected beatween said member and said shank, said member having a clamping portionfacing said notch, said portion and said notch being together shaped toreceive and at least par- 1 tially enclose a plurality of wires, so thatwhen said portion and said notch are brought together by-manipulation ofsaid nut, said wires are clamped together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this'20th day of June, 1931.

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER.

notch normally facing said first notch. a nut encircling one end of saidsecond shank, and means on said second shank for retaining said nutthereon, said nut being adapted to receive and engage the threaded endof said first shank, whereby, upon rotation of said nut, relativelongitudinal motion is effected between said shanks. said notches beingthereby displaced from facing position to clamp together a plurality ofwires inserted therein.

3. A connecter comprising a substantially hemicylindrical shank threadedat one end thereof in one direction-said shank having a notch in itsplane surface intermediate its ends, a second substantiallyhemicylindrical shank associated with said first shank and lioits

